Yemen Suicide Bombings Kill 142 People

On Friday, a series of suicide bombings in Yemen killed 142 people and wounded 351 more. ISIS has already claimed responsibility for the Friday attacks. The crowded Zaydi Shiite mosques were targeted by four bombers; each wearing explosive belts. The Sunni extremists were opposing the Houthi rebels, who recently seized control of the country. After the Houthi rebels’ rise to power, the situation in Yemen quickly deteriorated. This attack is the deadliest terrorist attack in Yemen’s history.

The group responsible for the attack is a terror group affiliated with ISIS. The group is calling itself Sana Province and they are reveling in the opportunity to bring violent destabilization to the region. The group said in an audio clip, “This operation is but the tip of an iceberg. The Islamic State soldiers will be not satisfied, or rest, until we eradicate them.” The Houthis are considered heretics by many Sunnis.

The suicide bombings in Yemen, which cost 143 their lives, are the bloodiest in the country’s history, rocked the country to the core. The image of charred bodies of the wounded being carried to the hospital in the back of pickup trucks will not be forgotten by many of Yemen’s people. The worshipers helped carry the wounded to hospitals in pick-up trucks, while others dragged the mutilated bodies from the scene.

Around the world, many countries have condemned these attacks. The United States has been particularly vocal about their displeasure with the attacks that have killed 142 people and wounded even more. Jeff Rathke, the director of the Bureau of Public Affairs, made the United States’ stance on the attacks quite clear, calling the actions “deplorable.” With no recognized government in Yemen, the country is at risk of being thrown into a civil war. The Obama administration worked to change the autocracy to an elected presidency just a few months ago, and this threat of civil war threatens to undermine many of the country’s counter-terrorist measures. The elected president of Yemen is Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. With President Hadi in hiding from the Houthi rebels, America has lost a serious ally in its counter-terrorist attacks on al Qaeda.

The majority of Yemenis have opposed the counter-terrorist methods of America in the region. The population of the region is against American drone strikes in the region targeting al Qaeda militants. The strikes against the militants have also been responsible for the deaths of many civilians. The group claiming responsibility for the attack was also responsible for the recent attacks in Tunisia. This comes just days after the tragic terror attack in Tunisia, where 20 people lost their lives. It seems doubtful that the United States will be sending forces to Yemen to try to combat ISIS’ foothold in the region, after already withdrawing troops from the country. These next few days will indicate whether or not the chaos will continue after the suicide bombings in Yemen which have killed 142 people.